The Tongariro Pass is listed in the Lonely Planet as one of NZ's best one day hikes - one that is not too taxing on those of us who are less that fit, even if it is 17.5km long.
We rose early on Monday morning and were taken by mini bus to the start of the 'tramp' within Tongariro National Park, with scroggin (a fruit, nut and chocolate mix provided by Kirsten) and sandwiches in hand. The walk started off as just that, along a gravel path on a gentle incline past alpine plants and moss. We crossed an ancient and flat crater, with massive volcanic rock boulders and were met with a tough climb.... up the side and onto the ridge of the extinct volcano. Huffing and puffing we continued up past spectacular and ever changing scenery of a volcano cone (Red Crater) and down a steep scree slope to aquamarine coloured lakes (Emerald Lakes), finally resting by a volcano crater lake for lunch. Rested and recovered the scenery changed from moonscape to grassy scrub as we made a long decent to the other end of the trail, which is within the 'bush' of fern trees and other lush greenery. The majority of the walk is in fact down hill, but the early part of the tramp was by no means the walk in the park that The Good Book made out. No matter, we all felt a huge sense of achievement as we conked out in the shade at the end the trail. We had managed the 17k hike in 6 hours and 20 minutes. Not bad for a pair of 30 somethings and Robin!
Hannah
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